Undertaker&#39;s fixture.



W. P. HENN.

UNDBRTAKERS FIXTURE. APPLIUATION FILED 111111.16, 1911.

Patented June 24, 1913.

UNITE WALTER I. HENN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

UNDERTAKERS FIXTURE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVALTER I?. HENN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1123 North Robey street, in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Undertakers Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for supporting candles, owers and other emblematic devices used in connection with funeral ceremonies in their proper relation to the coffin; and more especially to an improved fixture designed for holding such devices, and for detachable engagement with a coiiinrest, or support, or other suitable support, thereby obviating the use of a separate supporting stand or similar device commonly employed.

In the conduct of a funeral there is often employed an emblematic device of some sort which is arranged upon a stand placed at the head or at the foot of the conin, and as the :torni of such device usually varies according to the religious ceremony which is performed, it has heretofore been necessary for undertakers to provide as a part of their equipment a number of stands bearing the different emblematic devices which are employed. Such stands must usually be made comparatively high in order to support their devices at the proper height with relation to the coffin, and in order that they may not take up an unnecessary amount of floor space the size of their bases must be reasonably restricted; whereby there is danger of their upsetting. They have the further disadvantage of being heavy, cumbersome, and expensive, and of occupying a comparatively large amount of floor space; which floor space is often limited when a funeral ceremony is conducted in a small room, or when the room is otherwise occupied, as by decorations, and by persons attending the funeral.

The present invention contemplates the employment of a device, or xture, adapted for detachable engagement with one of the coliin-rests, or other suitable support, and designed for use in connection with any one or more of the different emblemat-ic devices which may be provided. Said fixture is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a view showing the complete fixture with one of its emblematic devices at- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16, 1911.

Patented June 24, 1913.

serial No. 644,288.

tache-d to a coffin-rest of 'a kind commonly used. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the removable emblematic device detached from such fixture. Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the complete fixture separated into its two parts, and with the removable emblematic device detached. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line 4 of Fig. 3,. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing another form of emblematic device adapted for use in connection with my improved fixture. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6 of Fig. Figs. 7 and 8 are views in perspective showing two other forms of emblematic devices which may be provided for use in connection with such fixture.

As shown in said drawings, 9 indicates a coffin-rest or support for one end of a coflin, said cofHn-rest comprising four legs l0, and a top 11, and being of a design commonly used. Its particular construction is not claimed as any part of the present invention.

12 indicates as a whole, a bracket shaped member adapted for detachable engagement with a portion of such coffin-rest and designed to extend horizontally from the same. Such member, as here shown, comprises a horizontal arm 14 having a clamping device at its inner end and having its outer end enlarged and provided with a cylindric opening or socket 16 adapted for engagement with a long bent arm 18 constituting the emblem bearing portion of the fixture. Asbest shown in Fig. 3, such arm 14, as viewed from above, is T shaped, its shorter cross arm 20 together with a similarly shaped member 22, and a pair of bolts 23 and 24 constituting a clamp adapted for engagement with a vertical portion of the rest 9, such as the bar 25 here shown. It is evident however, that such clamp may be secured upon coffin supports of other forms, such as tables or chairs which may be employed and which are commonly formed with vertical legs or backs, and other portions similar to the bar 25 here shown; or it may be clamped to the arm of a chair, or to the leg of a chair or table or the like, placed in the proper position and being entirely independent of the coin and its supports. The bolts 23 and 24 pass through openings in the cross arm 20, such bolts being square in their portions adjacent to their head ends as shown at 26 (Fig. 4) in order 11@ to prevent them 'from rotating in such openings. They pass through corresponding openings in the part 22 and are provided with wing nuts 28, one ot the openings through said part 22 being in the form of a marginal slet 29 in order that the clamp may be engaged' and disengaged from a supporting part without removing either wing nut from its bolt. The arm 20, between the bolts 213 and Qfet. is notched, as shown, and the cross member 22 is similarly shaped, in or der to torni an angular opening and adapt the clamping surfaces for engagement with supporting parts of ditlerent shapes and sizes. The outer end of said arm 111 is additionally supported by a folding diagonal brace 34;, hinged. at its outer end to said arm and having its inner end in the form of a fork 35 adapted to engage with the lower portion of the bar 25; or with some corresponding part of the coffin-rest or other object to which the clamp may be secured. The upper end of said brace 34 engages in a recess in the lower side of the arm 14 and is hinged therein by means of a horizontal pin 37 passing through the walls of said recess and through the end oit' said brace. Said recess is ot such shape and size as .to permit the brace to be folded up flat against the arm, but to limit its swinging movement in the opposite direction to approximately the angle shown; in order to prevent the forked end of said brace from sliding downward upon the part engaged by it, when not otherwise restrained. Ris ing from the outer end of the arm 14 .is the long bent arm 18 which is provided at its lower end with a vertical cylindric portion et() adapted for engagement with the opening 1G, whereby said bent arm may be swung horizontally in order to vary the position which its upper end shall occupy with respect to the coiiin-rest 9. A set screw 412, threaded through the outer end of the arm 14k, is adapted for rictional engagement with such cylindric portion 40 in order to prevent the rotation of the bent arm 18 atter its proper position has once been determined; and by loosening such set screw the device may be disjointed for convenience in handling, or otherwise. The upper end of the bent arm 18 is reduced in diameter to form a vshort threaded stud 41:5 adapted tor engagement with the emblematic devices incassai here shown, and others which may be provided or use in connection with it.

ln Figs. 1 and 2, i6 and i7 indicate parts ot' a single candle holding device constituting respectively a candle socket and a receptacle tor the melted wax, the latter part having an opening in its bottom through which the stud Li5 may extend and being secured in place by means of the candle socket 4G which is recessed and internally threaded in its lower end and screwed down upon the stud 15 in the same manner as an ordinary nut. `When it is desired to vary the ceremony and to use an emblematic device other than a single candle holder as above described, the parts 1G and 4:7 may be detached from the arm 18 and a different form ot emblematic device, such for example as the Candelabra shown in Figs. 5 and t3, may be employed. The latter includes a vertical shank portion which is recessed and in ternally threaded at its lower end similarly to the candle socket i6 and adapted for similar engagement with the stud 15. Similarly, instead of either of the candle bearing devices above described being employed, a 'flower vase (Fig. Y) having a shank portion 52 similar to the shank 50; or a cross 8) having a similar part 5a may be employed; or other forms of devices may be provided tor engagement with the stud. L15, and similar arrangement upon the upper end of the arm 18 as above described.

T claim as my invention:

The combination with a fixed support including an upright post, of a bracket meinber having a clamp designed lfor engagement with such post, a folding brace supporting such bracket member and having its lower end adapted for engagement with such post, a swinging arm engaging with such bracket member, means for securing such bracket member and such arm in rigid engagement, emblematic devices adapted for detachable engagement with such arm, and means for securing one of such devices in engagement therewith. A

in witness whereof, T have hereunto sub scribed my name in the presence ot two witnesses this 1li-th day of August 1911.

WALTER P. HENN. lVitnesses L. OSKAR THIEME, LAWRENCE A. COHEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for jive cents each, by addressing the f Commissioner of atents` "Washington, D. C. 

